| Oct. 5, 2001 #220 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Listen On-line at: http://www.drugsense.org/radio/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||
THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) FEDERAL MAGISTRATE TO HEAR ARGUMENTS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO (AP) - A federal magistrate will hear arguments Oct. 22 to decide
if records for more than 5,000 Northern California medical marijuana users
can be viewed by federal authorities. | ||||||||||||||||||
Chief Magistrate Gregory Hollows set the hearing Thursday in a courtroom packed with medical marijuana users, several in wheelchairs. | ||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency seized thousands of records Sept. 28 from
the California Medical Research Center in El Dorado County in what was
portrayed as an investigation into alleged marijuana distribution. Clinic
owners Dr. Mollie Fry and her attorney husband, Dale Schafer, deny selling
marijuana or certificates to buy it. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(2) 'SUPER' HEROIN WAS PLANNED BY BIN LADEN, REPORTS SAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The terror network headed by Osama bin Laden has tried to develop a
high-strength form of heroin that it planned to export to the United
States and Western Europe, according to intelligence reports received
by United States officials. | ||||||||||||||||||
An informer and a foreign law enforcement agency alerted American officials about two years ago that the network was seeking to recruit chemists to work on the effort, a federal official said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The official said the goal of the project, which apparently did not succeed, was to create a high-potency heroin that would produce greater addiction and havoc than drugs available in Western cities. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(3) US MO: BLACK LEADERS DENOUNCE DECISION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Demonstration Is Held At Restaurant | ||||||||||||||||||
Many of the area's civil rights leaders and activists voiced displeasure Wednesday that federal criminal charges would not be filed against police officers who shot two black men last year at a Jack in the Box. | ||||||||||||||||||
But some said they were not surprised by the outcome. | ||||||||||||||||||
"How can you be surprised?" said the Rev. Earl Nance Jr., head of the St.
Louis Clergy Coalition and education liaison to Mayor Francis Slay. "These
kinds of cases happen all over the country." | ||||||||||||||||||
In the case here, two undercover detectives with the St. Louis County
Police Department drug unit fatally shot the two men on June 12, 2000, in
Berkeley. One man, Earl Murray, was a drug suspect. The second man, Ronald
Beasley, was not suspected of any wrongdoing. The two unarmed men were shot
as they tried to escape in a car, police said. Officers said they feared
the men would run them over. | ||||||||||||||||||
But federal officials found that the men's car traveled only in reverse.
"The car was in reverse and the officers were in front," Nance said. "Why
didn't they just shoot the tires?" | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(4) US CA: CITY'S HEROIN USERS FIND NEW HOPE IN UCSF STUDY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Amelia is learning to be a careful junkie. In her bright, orderly
studio in the heart of the Tenderloin, the 21-year-old has been
shooting up three times a day for the past four months. | ||||||||||||||||||
She uses her own syringe, her own spoon and she won't share her
cotton or her fixing water. Next to her kitchen table she keeps a
Department of Public Health overdose prevention pamphlet that she
picked up at the needle exchange. | ||||||||||||||||||
With one person dying every other day from a heroin overdose in San
Francisco, Amelia has good reason to be concerned: the possibility
of an overdose is what junkies face each time they fix. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The link between terrorism and the drug war was explored more in
depth by commentators and analysts this week. Many realized that
drug prohibition is a poor model that will hinder efforts against
terrorism, while others, like Michael Collins of the Cincinnati
Post, illogically toed the party line. | ||||||||||||||||||
The relationship of the war on terrorism with the drug war in Colombia was also explored, with different views about the impact. Another article suggested reports that the Bush administration gave $43 million to the Taliban because of drug eradication were faulty. | ||||||||||||||||||
Finally, in domestic news, the U.S. Supreme Court will look at the
issue of evictions from public housing due tenant's slightest
connection to illegal drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(5) DRUG WAR REDUX (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Attorney General's Misguided Model For The War Against Terrorism | ||||||||||||||||||
Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft and an army of Justice Department officials have descended on Congress this week, lobbying hard for a utility belt of new police powers that they say would allow them to fight the critical war on terrorism. Disturbingly, Ashcroft's rhetoric reveals an ignorance of the immediate past instead of a vision for the future. | ||||||||||||||||||
In an attempt to show just how benign the War on Terror will be for
law-abiding citizens, Ashcroft has chosen an odd model: the War on
Drugs. At a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday,
Ashcroft repeatedly said that the tools in the fight against
terrorism should be at least as strong as the ones used to fight
gambling, organized crime, and illegal ("illicit" in government
parlance) substances. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(6) THIS ISN'T LIKE THE WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
His new war, we are being told, will not be like the wars, when we
knew where to drop our bombs. TV commentators repeatedly make the
analogy to the "war on drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately there is a valid comparison between these two struggles
that goes beyond the one which the pundits have mentioned. Their
point is that in each the enemy is shadowy, nonlocalized, shifting,
and hard to target or eradicate. All true. But there is a reason why
the war on drugs is unwinnable and, unfortunately, the same may
become true of this conflict. | ||||||||||||||||||
The problem with the war on drugs is that the enemy was misidentified from the beginning. The struggle was miscast, and the end result is a "war" that has done much more harm than good for our society. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(7) LET'S CLOSE THE BORDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
This is a war. A war on two fronts is more difficult to fight than a
war on one front. Drugs are a self financing enemy, terrorism is not.
In fact drug profits support terrorism. The answer to these problems
is more freedom not less. Let us give up the unwinnable war that
doesn't matter and fight the winnable war that does. | ||||||||||||||||||
To help win the real war its time to get the non-violent drug
prisoners out of jail and back to work. | ||||||||||||||||||
Whenever you meet a prohibitionist politician ask him or her the
following question: | ||||||||||||||||||
Do you support drug prohibition because it finances criminals at home
or because it finances terrorists abroad? | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(8) PATRIOTS DON'T USE HEROIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Calling all patriotic Americans: Now is the time to rise up in
defense of your country. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
With that in mind, government leaders are trying to tap into the patriotic fervor sweeping the country and convince Americans that illegal drug use is not only dangerous behavior. It's un-American. | ||||||||||||||||||
"By stopping these drug traffickers, we are stopping the flow of cash
used to fuel these terrorist cells," said Ohio Congressman Rob
Portman, the Terrace Park Republican. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(9) U.S. ANTI-TERROR CRACKDOWN MAY HIT COLOMBIA GROUPS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
BOGOTA, Colombia - President Bush's call for a crackdown on terrorism
has stirred concerns among Colombians, because their nation is home
to three of the 31 groups blacklisted by Washington as foreign
terrorist organizations. | ||||||||||||||||||
Yet, analysts are divided on how the anti-terror campaign will affect
Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||
The South American nation has been a top foreign policy priority for the Bush administration. Mired in a 37-year-old civil war, Colombia produces much of the cocaine and heroin sold on U.S. streets. | ||||||||||||||||||
Now, however, many observers say the country's troubles could be
overlooked amid the hunt for Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda
network, blamed for the Sept. 11 suicide attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon. | ||||||||||||||||||
Others believe that a worldwide dragnet for terrorists could have a
profound impact here, because Colombia's two leftist guerrilla armies
as well as its illegal right-wing paramilitary force could come under
closer international scrutiny. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(10) DID THE WHITE HOUSE GIVE THE TALIBAN $43 MILLION? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, a little-noticed decision
by the Bush administration last May has emerged as a powerful symbol
of US fecklessness. | ||||||||||||||||||
According to commentators of all ideological stripes -- from the Nation's Christopher Hitchens on the left to the New Yorker's Hendrik Hertzberg in the center to the Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly on the right -- the US gave $43 million to Afghanistan's Taliban government as a reward for its efforts to stamp out opium-poppy cultivation. That would have been a shockingly inappropriate gift to a government that had been sanctioned by the United Nations for its refusal to hand over international terrorist Osama bin Laden. | ||||||||||||||||||
Would have been, that is, if it had really happened. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(11) U.S. SUPREME COURT TAKES ON DRUG-RELATED EVICTION CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Case Involves Tenants Who May Face Eviction | ||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted the case of four elderly
Oakland Housing Authority residents who have been threatened with
eviction because their relatives or guests had drugs on public
housing property. | ||||||||||||||||||
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in January shot down the
housing authority's "one strike and you're out" policy, ruling
tenants couldn't be punished for drug activity of which they had no
knowledge or control. | ||||||||||||||||||
Now the nation's highest court, at the Bush administration's urging,
will weigh in to set a precedent affecting every public housing
resident in the nation. | ||||||||||||||||||
Paul Renne, an attorney for the plaintiffs, acknowledged the Supreme
Court's very acceptance of the case might not bode well for his
clients. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (12-15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Some law enforcement-related reports this week show that you can't
teach old drug warriors new tricks. The exposure of lying under oath
by a high-paid DEA informant did not result in a housecleaning at
the agency; actually no one will be punished at all. Wisconsin
legislators apparently want to outdo neighbors in Illinois by making
mere possession of ecstasy into a felony. And in California, a task
force on methamphetamine came up with a novel idea: create a "meth
czar." | ||||||||||||||||||
Also in California, many serious drug users seem to be impacted by
Prop. 36, which disturbs critics, even if their more dire worries
have not materialized. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(12) DEA WON'T PUNISH AGENTS WHO FAILED TO DISCLOSE LYING BY INFORMER (Top)CHAMBERS | ||||||||||||||||||
Nobody will be disciplined for letting St. Louis-based drug snitch
Andrew Chambers lie under oath throughout 16 years of government
testimony, Asa Hutchinson, the new head of the DEA, disclosed in an
interview with the Post-Dispatch. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The DEA's own records show that senior officials at headquarters fought a two-year court fight to keep secret Chambers records: that he repeatedly lied in court when he claimed he had never been arrested or convicted, inflated his educational background and claimed he paid taxes on his DEA earnings - more than $1.8 million. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(13) TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR CLUB DRUGS SOUGHT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Measure Proposed By Two State Lawmakers Would Make Possession Of
Ecstasy A Felony Offense | ||||||||||||||||||
With club drugs such as Ecstasy gaining in popularity among suburban
Wisconsin youth, two state lawmakers want to make possession a felony
offense, carrying penalties similar to those for illegal drugs more
commonly found in urban areas. | ||||||||||||||||||
"There should not be a distinction between the dangerous drugs used
by suburban kids and the dangerous drugs used by kids in inner city
Milwaukee," said Rep. Gregg Underheim (R-Oshkosh). | ||||||||||||||||||
Underheim is co-sponsoring a bill that police and drug counselors
believe also would funnel more young club-drug users into treatment
if it is enacted. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(14) CONSORTIUM AGAINST METH PRESENTS PROPOSALS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A consortium of policy-makers, drug-treatment experts, law enforcement officials and others concerned about the epidemic of methamphetamine abuse in Washington state issued a long list of recommendations yesterday aimed at battling the illicit drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Recommendations include: | ||||||||||||||||||
Appoint a meth czar, of sorts, who could orchestrate strategy and
programs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Fully fund a comprehensive program to eradicate meth from the state. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(15) NEW DRUG-OFFENDER PROGRAM DRAWS UNEXPECTED CLIENTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Some of the problems that critics of Proposition 36 predicted have not arisen. California's treatment centers have not been overwhelmed, because far fewer drug offenders than anticipated have pleaded guilty under the new law. But among those who have sought treatment, there have been far more severe addicts than anyone expected, with the added complications of mental illness, homelessness and unemployment. | ||||||||||||||||||
"One of the lessons we are learning is that we are getting a lot of
people who are so addicted they just aren't ready for treatment,"
Judge Marcus said in his courtroom in the vast downtown Los Angeles
County criminal courts building. "Their addiction is so powerful it
controls everything in their lives." | ||||||||||||||||||
In Los Angeles County, which accounts for one-fourth of all
California drug arrests, about 30 percent of offenders who pleaded
guilty under Proposition 36 have since had bench warrants issued for
their arrests because they failed to show up at treatment centers or
did not return to court for a review of their progress, Judge Marcus
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
No country in the world better illustrates the misconceptions and
contradictions of the "war on drugs" than the US. Even as states
like Nevada continue to pass progressive laws allowing for the use
of medical cannabis and lowering the penalty for personal use to a
misdemeanor, the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration is
proposing outlawing hemp food and body-care products. The divide
between the will of the people (reflected in state medical and
decrim/legalization initiatives) and that of the federal government
continues to widen, revealing the hypocrisy and irrationality behind
US national drug policy and prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||
Last week saw the UK's first Dutch-style cannabis cafe get closed
down just as it opened its doors; this week the brave Brits of
Brixton (South London) have proposed opening up 3 "drive-thru"
cannabis distribution centers. Not to be left out, calls for the
legalization of medical cannabis were put forward in Ireland
following the news of successful British clinical trials organized
by the UK's GW Pharmaceuticals. | ||||||||||||||||||
And down under, the state government of New South Wales is considering legalizing medical use after consultation with the public and experts showed overwhelming support for the plan. | ||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. has taken the lead in so many areas of international
policy; I wonder why this great nation must constantly be dragged
down the harm-reduction path by the rest of the World? I wonder just
how often the battle for compassion and reasoning must be fought? I
wonder, after staring in the face of real evil, and after being
exposed to the atrocities of a very real war over the past few
weeks, how on earth U.S. drug policy-makers can still justify
destroying the lives of peaceful American citizens? I wonder how
many more victims will be made to suffer before the World finally
capitulates this fruitless, merciless "war on drugs"? I wonder,
finally, if next week will bring better news. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(16) MAKERS OF HEMP PRODUCTS TO FIGHT DEA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Federal drug enforcement officials are proposing new regulations that
would outlaw food and body-care products that contain hemp. Hemp
products are sold in Hawai'i through major retail chains such as The
Body Shop, which offers hemp-based soaps and lotions, and smaller
stores like Hemp House in Pa'ia, Maui. | ||||||||||||||||||
Hemp House owner Kathy Barr said she uses hemp oil in her lotions
because it is a long-lasting moisturizer that is easily absorbed into
the skin. "It's our best-selling product and to have that cut out
would have a big impact on us," she said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The rules proposed by the Drug Enforcement Administration would allow
"the continuation of what have historically been considered
legitimate industry uses of hemp such as paper, rope and clothing."
However, the line is drawn at products that would introduce even
trace amounts of THC into the human body. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(17) NEW NEVADA LAW EASES PENALTIES ON MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
CARSON CITY -- Nevada's reputation as the state with the toughest marijuana penalties ends Monday when a state law goes into effect that makes possession of small amounts of pot a misdemeanor offense. | ||||||||||||||||||
Police throughout the state are gearing up to hand out citations when
they catch people with an ounce or less of marijuana. These people
face fines of $600 for the first two times they are caught with small
amounts of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Hosmer will advise his officers to decide case by case whether to
ticket or arrest people with marijuana in their cars. In Las Vegas,
Clark County Deputy District Attorney Dave Barker is advising police
to consider issuing tickets rather than busting users and hauling
them off to jail. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(18) TAKE-AWAY CANNABIS CAFE PROPOSED IN UK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Plans to open the first licensed Dutch-style cannabis cafes in
Britain, including one which would specialise as a fast take-away
service, have been proposed in Brixton, south London. The scheme to
open three cafes is designed to follow the present six-month
experiment under which Lambeth police do not arrest people found in
possession of small amounts of cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
The scheme has been drawn up by Tim Summers, the organiser of the
successful annual cannabis campaign marches held for the past three
years in south London. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We would follow the tested Dutch regulations that mean no
advertising, no sale of hard drugs, no nuisance, no alcohol, no sale
to those under 18 years and no sale of more than 30 grams of cannabis
for each transaction," he said. "The idea is to supersede the
criminal street trade by being open long hours, and offering a wide
choice of resin and herbal cannabis at cheaper prices." | ||||||||||||||||||
The proposal by the group, Cannabis Action, follows consultation with
youth workers, residents, and pro-legalisation campaigners. The first
cafe would offer a licensed 24-hour take-away service which would
serve Londoners and other "drug tourists"; the second could be under
the sponsorship of Brixton's Rastafarian community; while the third
might attract interest from the local hippie community. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(19) CANNABIS FOR PAIN RELIEF URGED IN IRELAND (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A serious debate must take place in Ireland about legalising cannabis
for medicinal use, a Cork Fine Gael TD has urged, following
successful trials in the United Kingdom. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Simon Coveney said that "trials conducted over the last number of
years in the UK have produced very encouraging results in the relief
of severe pain, muscle spasm and bladder problems associated with
illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We need to separate the use of cannabis as a recreational drug from
its potential to relieve suffering from a range of illnesses such as
epilepsy and multiple sclerosis as well as chronic pain relief," he
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(20) AUSTRALIAN REPORT URGES CANNABIS TO BE LEGALISED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
NSW Cabinet is to consider a report which found most people want
cannabis to be used for medical purposes, particularly for pain
relief. | ||||||||||||||||||
While cannabis is illegal in NSW, the state government is
investigating whether to follow other countries which allow people
with serious illness to use it for pain relief. | ||||||||||||||||||
A report on the results of community consultation into the drug's
usage released in state parliament today found more than 70 per cent
of 117 respondents said its use for medical purposes should be
allowed. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Amid fears that Afghanistan's ruling Taliban shall flood the west
with cheap heroin, U.S. and UK troops will "target a UKP20 billion
stockpile of opium and heroin," a British paper last week stated,
citing intelligence documents. It was not disclosed precisely how
such hidden stockpiles might be located. | ||||||||||||||||||
Given that opium is to be targeted, military officials may need to consider refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan, as well. The price of opium continues to plummet, say opium traders in Peshawar, a town near the Afghani border which is notorious for smuggling. The price of opium has dropped from "$700 a kilo to $90" since September 11, reported the Chicago Tribune. "The refugees are selling their valuables, and this includes opium, so right now there's a glut on the market." | ||||||||||||||||||
An article in the Wall Street Journal revealed that by going after
Central Asian "drug money," the U.S. may well end up attacking both
enemy and ally. Officials in the Afghani Northern Alliance and
neighboring Tajikistan concede that opium and heroin trafficking are
entrenched. The U.S. has often allied itself with heroin
traffickers in the past. In the 1980s, for example, "CIA assets
again controlled the heroin trade in the region, as they did in
Vietnam and Laos a decade earlier," wrote an investigative report in
the Vancouver Courier. | ||||||||||||||||||
A plane used in Colombian "drug eradication efforts," was lost near
the Bahamas this week. Aboard the plane was a pilot from "the State
Department, which contracts with Virginia-based DynCorp to do the
spray program." Coast Guard officials speculated the plane may have
been forced down due to bad weather. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Canada, a needle exchange program has been a success at limiting
infection risks from used needles, a British Columbian paper wrote
last week. Officials stated that the return rate for used needles
was over 100 percent. Some 45,000 used needles were collected last
year, when only 42,000 were given out. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(21) TROOPS WILL TARGET DRUGS STOCKPILE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Downing Street Fears The Taliban Will Flood The West With Ukp20
Billion Worth Of Heroin | ||||||||||||||||||
American and British troops are to target a UKP20 billion stockpile
of opium and heroin which intelligence officials believe is about to
be released onto the world market by Osama bin Laden and the Taliban
authorities. Intelligence documents circulating in Downing Street say
that bin Laden and the Taliban will use money made from the trade to
fund any war against the West. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Although refusing to go into specifics, Government sources said that
the destruction of the drugs trade was a 'long-held ambition' and
that they would be flexible in making it part of the 'war against
terrorism'. | ||||||||||||||||||
'We want to see an end to opium production in Afghanistan,' the Prime
Minister's official spokesman said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(22) PANICKED OPIUM TRADERS UNLOAD HUGE STOCKS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Price Plummets As Refugees Seek Cash In Pakistan | ||||||||||||||||||
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Just as the Dow Jones industrial average fell
precipitously in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the U.S., so
did the main economic marker in the ramshackle street bazaars of
Pakistan's North West Frontier province. | ||||||||||||||||||
Traders in Peshawar reported that the price of opium had plunged from $700 a kilo to $90 since Sept. 11. They blamed the drop on panic selling by Afghan traffickers and refugees who have been crossing the border into Pakistan ahead of anticipated U.S. military strikes. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The opium poppy is cultivated by peasants for whom it is a cash crop
as well as a source of credit and savings. "The farmers are not
criminals. They would be happy to plant something else provided we
help them," Frahi said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Opium and the cultivation of opium poppies are deeply rooted in the
culture here, but cultivation on an industrial scale did not occur
until the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(23) IN TARGETING TERRORISTS' DRUG MONEY, U.S. PUTS ITSELF IN AN (Top)AWKWARD SITUATION | ||||||||||||||||||
Analysts Say Taliban's Foes -- Bush's Likely Allies -- Are Using
Opium and Other Drugs for Funds as Well | ||||||||||||||||||
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - In its assault on terrorism, the U.S. may seek to choke off profits from the Central Asian drug trade that are used to buy arms and explosives. But some important potential allies in Washington's struggle with Afghanistan are also believed to be reaping the rewards of the nation's burgeoning heroin trade. | ||||||||||||||||||
Nowhere is the problem clearer than along Afghanistan's northern
border with Tajikistan, a sworn ally in President Bush's
antiterrorist efforts-and a major conduit for heroin and opium on its
way to consumers in Europe. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The Taliban, invoking Islam, has largely stamped out opium production
in most of Afghanistan. Northern Alliance leaders, for their part,
deny any connection to drug trafficking but concede that it does take
place on their territory. | ||||||||||||||||||
"All the leaders on both sides in Afghanistan are fed by drugs," says
Muzaffar Olimov, director of the Center for Oriental Studies, a
Dushanbe think tank. "It is of course not open or official, and
nobody confirms it. But people can't buy all the weapons that they
have with gems alone:' | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(24) U.S. NURTURED RADICAL ISLAM, IGNORED DRUG DEALING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Afghanistan's CIA-funded guerrilla camps-ironically, now prime
targets for an American counterattack-were responsible for the
training of the freedom fighters, integrating military instruction
with the teachings of Islam. Using U.S. marine manuals translated
into Arabic, and the time-tested principles of CIA psychological
operations, the ISI worked with peoples' beliefs rather than against
them. Guerrillas in training were taught that Islam was a complete
socio-political ideology, that holy Islam was being violated by the
atheistic Soviet troops, and that the Islamic people of Afghanistan
should reassert their independence by overthrowing the leftist Afghan
regime propped up by Moscow. | ||||||||||||||||||
A lesser known aspect of American involvement in the Afghan-Soviet
war were the consequences for the global drug trade. | ||||||||||||||||||
On June 18, 1986, The New York Times reported that the mujahideen "have been involved in narcotics activities as a matter of policy to finance their operations. The opium warlords worked under cover of the U.S./Saudi/Pakistani axis that funded their arms sales and aided the conveyance of the drugs into the European and North American markets where they account for 50 per cent of heroin sales." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(25) DRUG-ERADICATION PLANE MISSING IN BAHAMAS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A small plane that was part of a Colombian drug-eradication program disappeared Monday in the Bahamas on its way to Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, State Department and Coast Guard officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The two-seater plane left the Turks and Caicos Islands early Monday
morning, said Susan Pittman, a State Department spokeswoman in
Washington, D.C. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Federal Aviation Administration told the pilot to try to land in Freeport, but that was the last contact with the aircraft, said Verla Davis, a spokeswoman at Patrick, home of the State Department Air Wing. She said she did not know why the pilot was urged to land. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Coast Guard said the only person aboard was a pilot with 20 years
of experience with the State Department, which contracts with
Virginia-based DynCorp to do the spray program. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(26) INFECTION FROM USED NEEDLES A WORRY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The number of hypodermic needles found by the Downtown Kelowna Patrol
would likely balloon were it not for the needle exchange service
provided by Outreach Health Services, which collected some 45,000 of
them last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
Street Nurse Lee Fenton says their return rate is over 100 per cent because the program only gave out 42,000 needles last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Outreach Health is considering the use of 24-hour drop boxes to help
collect even more needles. The drop boxes would also help ensure that
needles are not tossed into trash cans putting whoever changes the
bags at risk. | ||||||||||||||||||
"It is something this community needs to look at as an option to address the problem of discarded needles in public places." | ||||||||||||||||||
The needles are stored in special containers then shipped to
Washington state to be incinerated. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
DIRECTING AMERICA'S DRUG WAR: WHICH WAY TO A SAFER SOCIETY | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
On Monday, 10 Sep 2001 DEA Administrator Hutchinson debated New Mexico Governor Johnson at The University of New Mexico's Continuing Education Conference Center. The debate is now online in realaudio format. Go to the Justice Talking page (where there is also an online poll) at http://www.justicetalking.org/shows/show182.asp | ||||||||||||||||||
Or you may listen to the debate directly from this link: | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
END THE DRUG WAR IS BACK ONLINE | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
THE POWER OF THE POPPY | ||||||||||||||||||
By Inigo Thomas | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
POLICE SHOOT WOMAN RESTRAINING DOG | ||||||||||||||||||
Aimed at dog, hit owner, all over two ounces of cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY | ||||||||||||||||||
HHS has issued its publication "Summary of Findings from the 2000 National Household Survey." It's now available on the web at: | ||||||||||||||||||
There is also a PDF copy available for download. | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Doug McVay | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME | ||||||||||||||||||
I have copies of the prepared statements, from the 10/03 hearing
before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, by DEA Administrator
Asa Hutchinson, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), and State Dept. Bureau of
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs ('Drugs 'n' Thugs')
Office of Asia Director William Bach for anyone who is interested. PDF
versions have been posted to the web for convenient downloading at
these URLs: | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.csdp.org/research/100301bach.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Doug McVay | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
OXYCONTIN EDITORIAL RIGHT TO THE POINT | ||||||||||||||||||
By Jos. E. Hopwood | ||||||||||||||||||
Your editorial on OxyContin (Sept. 26) was right to the point. People have every right to whatever medical science can do to alleviate their pain. Policemen are not doctors of medicine and have no business restricting the use of the drugs in the doctors' arsenal. | ||||||||||||||||||
The reason OxyContin has been so successful as a drug of recreation
is that it is an ideal substitute for expensive heroin. If we want
to end the OxyContin wars, we must allow doctors to prescribe heroin
legally for recreational users. | ||||||||||||||||||
Heroin itself remains the best and cheapest treatment for heroin
addiction and for that reason must be available. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jos. E. Hopwood, | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
DR. MOLLIE FRY RAIDED BY DEA | ||||||||||||||||||
By Jay R. Cavanaugh | ||||||||||||||||||
The other shoe has finally dropped. We have been waiting since the
Supreme Court decision and the appointment of old time drug warriors
to the positions of Attorney General and DEA Chief to see if the
Federal Government was going to be true to it's pledge of respect for
State's Rights or whether the Feds would continue to hound medical
cannabis patients regardless of State laws. | ||||||||||||||||||
Last night, physician, humanitarian, caregiver, and patient, Dr.
Mollie Fry was subject to an unprecedented raid by the DEA. Dr. Fry's
Cool California Center has assisted some 5,000 patients in Northern
California. Her practice combines medical review, legal consultation,
and cannabis education. Both her clinic and home were assaulted by DEA
agents with guns drawn. Both Dr. Fry's personal medical garden and her
patients records were seized. Local authorities claim there was nothing
they could do to alter or delay the Federal plan to crack down on the
El Dorado County physician. | ||||||||||||||||||
Patients, caregivers, and the health community throughout the nation have been placed on notice that the Federal Government has no respect for State Laws providing for the compassionate use of medical cannabis. Dr. Fry, herself a cancer patient, has provided invaluable assistance to many California patients. An educational seminar infiltrated by DEA agents with falsified physician recommendations was the proximate cause of the raid. No charges have yet been filed but a large medical practice operating within State Law has been effectively closed. Thousands of patients and families will suffer from this blow. | ||||||||||||||||||
In our nations most terrible time of trouble and anxiety, when we look
to the Federal Government to protect us from terror, we have now
witnessed first hand how distorted the governments priorities are. We
will never know how many DEA agents have been tracking Dr. Fry or for
how long. We don't know what resources will be devoted to her
prosecution should there be one. A single agent and a single
prosecution is too many. | ||||||||||||||||||
We have a real war of terror on our hands and can little afford to continue the utterly discredited phony war on medical cannabis. There is a great deal at stake with this DEA precedent. Patients rights have been violated. States Rights have been ignored. Resources so desperately needed to protect us have instead been used against us. | ||||||||||||||||||
I add this short personal observation. I have been privileged to
review Dr. Fry's Center first hand. I have sat on educational panels
with Dr. Fry and engaged her in numerous conversations. There is
nothing phony or criminal about this courageous Christian doctor who
administers to the needy as her conscience dictates, her scripture
commands, and the State of California allows. We must come to her aid
in every way possible. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jay R. Cavanaugh, Ph.D. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human
soul." -- Mark Twain | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense offers
our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what DrugSense can
do for you. | ||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||
Please utilize the following URLs | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analyses by Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by Phillipe Lucas (), International content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (), Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO DRUGSENSE ON-LINE | ||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send
your contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||
|
 | current issue | this issue |